Switch-operating mechanism



Oct 1, 1929. J. D. WOOD SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jun so. 1926 Patented Oct. 1, 1929 l f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE JOSEPH J). WOOD, F WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS; ASSIGNORTO CONDIT ELECTRICAL I MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACEUSETTS SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed. June 30, 1926. Serial No. 119,770.

This invention relates to manually concludes a pair of spaced triangularly-shaped trolled operating mechanisms for electric toggle-plates 24which are disposed between switches and has for an object the provision the handle bars 18 and are pivoted at their of an operating mechanism including an opforward lower corners on the pin 26 carried aerating handle by which the switch is adaptby and extended between said bars. The 55 ed to be closed, with means for locking the operating rodv 16 is pivotally connected to handle and thereby the switch in switch the lower rear corner of said plates by the closed position and so arranged that the unpin 28. The upper corner of said plates has locking of the handle effects the prior opena pin 30 extended therethrough on which a .ing of the switch, so that the switch can latch roller 32 is loosely journalled. The 60 open at its own speed and independently of handle bars are provided with rearwardly the handle. extended depending projections 34 between A further object is generally to improve which a latch 36 is loosely disposed on the the construction of switchoperating mecha pin 38. Said latch is provided at its fornisms. ward end with a recess d0 into which the 65' The broader principle of this invention latch roller 32 is adapted 'to be received is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending whereby to lock the switch operating rod reapplication Serial No. 113,790, filed June leasably with the handle. When the latch 4 1925 36 is depressed by rotating it in a counter 2 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a switch opclockwise direction, it is caused to be dis- 70. crating mechanism embodying this invenengaged from the movable latch roller tion associated with an electric switch.- whereby to permitthe switch to open. Said- Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the switch latch 36 is normally biased to. latching fposi operating mechanism of Fig. 1. 01011 either by gravity or by a' spring not Fig. 3 is a detail of the operating mechashown, and a movement'of the switch han- 75.- nism just after the switch has been tripped dle in a counterclockwise direction to open and has opened and while the handle is yet circuit position serves to efiect the re-enlocked to the face plate. gagement of the latch and the toggle-plates As here shown, the switch operating mechin the usual manner so that the switch can anism embodying the invention is carried by again be closed by a'movement of the opa face plate 10 which is adapted to be secrating handle into the position illustrated. cured to a panel or other suitable support The operating handle is provided with 12. The electric switch 1 1 may be of any means to lock it releasably in the switch suitable or desirable construction and may closed position to the face plate. Said means 35 also be secured to said support 12 opposite includes a handle locking latch 12 which is said face plate. A horizontally reciprocable pivoted'at 14 to the upper end of the face switch operating member or rod 16 is conplate between a pair of spaced forwardly exnected with the switch mechanism and is tending plates formed integral therewith and extended through said support and face extends forwardly thereof and is adapted 46 plate for connection with the switch operatreleasably to engage a latch roller 416 dising mechanism embodying this invention. posed between and loosely mounted on a pin Theswitch operating mechanism as here 18 connecting the depending projections 34: shown comprises an operating handle of said operating handle. Said latch 42 is formed of a pair of spaced bars 18 which biased for handle locking position by suitare pivoted at their lower ends to a forwardable means as a spring 50. When said handle ly directed extension 20 of the face plate 10. looking latch is depressed it is caused to re The upper end of said bars are fixed to a lease its hold on the operating handle wherehandle grip 22. Said switch operating rod by to permit the handle to move in a counter- 16 is connected to the operating handle clockwise direction about its pivot to a switch 50 through a breakable connection which in open position. Said latch is adapted to'be 1 depressed by means including a thumb button 52 disposed in a recess 5% in the upper part of the handle grip 22 and normally ele vated thereabove.

A coil compression spring 56 is disposed in said recess beneath said button to hold it normally in elevated and latch free position. A trip rod 58 is affixed to said button 52 and extends downwardly through said handle grip into the space between the handle bars 18 and is provided at its lower end with an enlar ement or head 60 which is disposed above and in a position to engage the forward projection 62 of said handle locking latch. Normally said spring 5% serves to maintain said head 60 in elevated position tree from engagement with said latch. thumb button 52 is depressed said head 60 is moved downwardly into engagement with the latch where to depress it and free it from its holding engagement with the operating handle, thereby to permit said handle to be moved to switch open position.

In accordance with this invention means are provided to trip the switch prior to the complete release of the operating handle so that the switch can move to open position at its own speed independent of and not retarded by the operating handle. To this end, said trip rod 58 is provided with an extension 6% which is disposed beneath said head 60 and terminates above and normally free of and in position to engage and depress the switch latch 36 so that when said thumb button 52 is depressed, the switch latch 3e is caused to be disengaged from the toggle plates 5 thereby to permit the switch to open independently of the handle. The lower end of said extension Gl is adapted to be disposed in'imediately above the switch latch 36 while the head 60, is adapted to be disposed considerably above the handle locking latch 42 in the normal switch closed position of the parts. lVith this disposition, when the thumb button 52 is depressed, the extension 54 is moved into engagement with the switch latch 36 and completely frees it from the toggleplates before the head 60 has been moved downwardly far enough to effect the complete release of the locking latch 42' from the handle. Under these conditions, the switch is tripped open prior to the complete unlocking of the handle so that the switch opens at its own speed independently of manual control.

It will. be noted that the switch latch 26 can be tripped independently of the operation of the thumb button, so that the switch can be opened automatically on overload.

I claim:

1. An electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of a switch opera ing member, means to hold said member releasably in switch closed position, an actuating handle for said switch operating mem- When said I ber, means to hold said actuating handle releasably in switch closed position and tripping means engageable in succession with said switch holding and handle holding means in the order named whereby to release both holding means in succession, said switch holding means having provision for releasing said switch operating member independently or" said tripping means.

2. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of a switch operating member, means including a latch to hold it in switch closed position, an actuating member for said switch operating member, means including a latch to hold it in switch closed position, and tripping means arranged to operate said latches in successive order, said lirst latch having provision for being tripped independently of said tripping means.

3. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of a switch operating member, means including a latch to hold it in switch closed position, an actuating member for said switch operating member, means including a latch to hold it in switch closed position, and tripping means arranged to operate said latches in successive order and actuate the switch latch first whereby to effect the opening of the switch independently of the actuating member, said first latch having provlsion for being tripped independently of said tripping means.

4. Electric switch operating mechanism in cluding the combination of an actuating member, means to lock it releasablyin switch closed position, a switch operating member having a breakable connection with said actuating member, and tripping means arranged to engage and break said breakable connection and subsequently to engage and release the locking means for the actuating member, said breakable connection having provision for being broken independently of said tripping means.

5. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating member, means to lock it releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member having a breakable connection with said actuating member, and tripping means carried by said actuating member arranged to engage and break said breakable connection and subsequently to engage and release the locking means for the actuating member, said breakable connection having provision for being broken independently of said tripping means.

6. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating member, means including a latch to lock said actuating member releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, a toggle connecting said actuating and operating members, means including a latch to lock said toggle set, member and tripping means arranged to engage and depress said latches in successive order.

7 Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating member, means including a latch to lock said actuating member releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, means including a latch to lock said operating member releasably with said actuating member, and means independent of said latches carried by said actuating member arranged to engage and depress said latches in successive order.

8. Electric switch operating mechanism. including the combination of an actuatin handle, depressible means to lock said handle releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, depressible means to lock said switch operating member releasably to said handle, tripping means for both said locking means independent thereof including a thumb button carried by said handle, and means actuated by the depressing of said thumb button to depress and release both said holding means in succession.

9. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating handle, means to lock said handle releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, including a normally straightened toggle means to lock said switch operating member releasably to said handle comprising a latch arranged to hold said toggle in straightened condition, and tripping means for said locking means and latch including a thumb button carried by said handle and means actuated by the depressing of said thumb button to engage and release said holding means and latch in succession, said tripping means operable to release said latch first.

10. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating handle, a latch to lock said handle releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, means including a second latch disposed beneath said first latch to lock said switch operating member releasably to said handle, and tripping means for said latches independent thereof including a tripping rod carried by the handle and terminated thereabove and disposed in position to be depressed into operative engagement with both latches.

11. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating handle, a latch to lock said handle releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, means including a second latch disposed beneath said first latch to lock said switch operating member releasably to said handle, and tripping means for said latches independent thereof including a tripping rod carried by the handle and free of and terminated thereabove and disposed in position to be depressed into .engagement with both latches, said tripping rod constructed and ar ranged to engage and depress the switch latch first and thereafter to engage and depress said handle holding latch.

12. Electric switch operating mechanism including the combination of an actuating handle, a depressible latch to hold said handle releasably in switch closed position, a switch operating member, means including a depressible switch latch disposed beneath said handle latch to lock said switch operating member releasably to said handle, and tripping means for said latches including a tripping rod carried by the handle and terminated at its upper end above said handle and at its lower end immediately above and free from operative engagement with said switch latch and having an extension disposed above said handle latch, said tripping rod constructed and arranged when depressed to depress said switch latch and thereafter to move its extension into engagement with said handle latch whereby to depress it subsequent the depression of said handle latch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH D. WOOD. 

